Towards the integration of process and quality control using multi-agent technology

The paper introduces a vision on the design of distributed manufacturing control systems using the multi-agent principles to enhance the integration of the production and quality control processes. It is highlighted how agent technology may enforce interaction of manufacturing execution system and distributed control system, enhancing the exploitation of the available information at the quality control and process control levels. A specific focus is made on a suitable engineering methodology for the design and realization of such concept. Innovation is also presented at the level of adaptive process control and self-optimizing quality control, with examples related to a home appliance production line

Knowledge-based Engineering in Product Development Processes - Process, IT and Knowledge Management perspectives

Product development as a field of practice and research has significantly changed due to the general trends of globalization changing the enterprise landscapes in which products are realized. The access to partners and suppliers with high technological specialization has also led to an increased specialization of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Furthermore, the products are becoming increasingly complex with a high functional and technological content and many variants. Combined with shorter lifecycles which require reuse of technologies and solutions, this has resulted in an overall increased knowledge intensity which necessitates a more explicit approach towards knowledge and knowledge management in product development. In parallel, methods and IT tools for managing knowledge have been developed and are more accessible and usable today. One such approach is knowledge-based engineering (KBE), a term that was coined in the mid-1980s as a label for applications which automate the design of rule-driven geometries. In this thesis the term KBE embraces the capture and application of engineering knowledge to automate engineering tasks, regardless of domain of application, and the thesis aims at contributing to a wider utilization of KBE in product development (PD). The thesis focuses on two perspectives of KBE; as a process improvement IT method and as a knowledge management (KM) method. In the first perspective, the lack of explicit regard for the constraints of the product lifecycle management (PLM) architecture, which governs the interaction of processes and IT in PD, has been identified to negatively affect the utilization of KBE in PD processes. In the second perspective, KM theories and models can complement existing methods for identifying potential for KBE applications.Regarding the first perspective, it is concluded that explicit regard for the PLM architecture decreases the need to develop and maintain software code related to hard coded redundant data and functions in the KBE application. The concept of service oriented architecture (SOA) has been found to enable an the explicit regard for the PLM architecture.. Regarding the second perspective, it is concluded that potential for KBE applications is indicated by: 1.) application of certain types of knowledge in PD processes 2.) high maturity and formalization of the applied knowledge 3.) a codification strategy for KM and 4.) an agreement and transparency regarding how the knowledge is applied, captured and transferred. It is also concluded that the formulation of explicit KM strategies in PD should be guided by knowledge application and its relation to strategic objectives focusing on types of knowledge, their role in the PD process and the methods and tools for their application. These, in turn, affect the methods and tools deployed for knowledge capture in order for it to integrate with the processes of knowledge origin. Finally, roles and processes for knowledge transfer have to be transparent to assure the motivation of individuals to engage in the KM strategy

Engineering methods and tools for cyber–physical automation systems

Much has been published about potential benefits of the adoption of cyber–physical systems (CPSs) in manufacturing industry. However, less has been said about how such automation systems might be effectively configured and supported through their lifecycles and how application modeling, visualization, and reuse of such systems might be best achieved. It is vitally important to be able to incorporate support for engineering best practice while at the same time exploiting the potential that CPS has to offer in an automation systems setting. This paper considers the industrial context for the engineering of CPS. It reviews engineering approaches that have been proposed or adopted to date including Industry 4.0 and provides examples of engineering methods and tools that are currently available. The paper then focuses on the CPS engineering toolset being developed by the Automation Systems Group (ASG) in the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick, Coventry, U.K. and explains via an industrial case study how such a component-based engineering toolset can support an integrated approach to the virtual and physical engineering of automation systems through their lifecycle via a method that enables multiple vendors' equipment to be effectively integrated and provides support for the specification, validation, and use of such systems across the supply chain, e.g., between end users and system integrators

Knowledge-based Engineering in Product Development Processes - Process, IT and Knowledge Management perspectives

Product development as a field of practice and research has significantly changed due to the general trends of globalization changing the enterprise landscapes in which products are realized. The access to partners and suppliers with high technological specialization has also led to an increased specialization of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Furthermore, the products are becoming increasingly complex with a high functional and technological content and many variants. Combined with shorter lifecycles which require reuse of technologies and solutions, this has resulted in an overall increased knowledge intensity which necessitates a more explicit approach towards knowledge and knowledge management in product development. In parallel, methods and IT tools for managing knowledge have been developed and are more accessible and usable today. One such approach is knowledge-based engineering (KBE), a term that was coined in the mid-1980s as a label for applications which automate the design of rule-driven geometries. In this thesis the term KBE embraces the capture and application of engineering knowledge to automate engineering tasks, regardless of domain of application, and the thesis aims at contributing to a wider utilization of KBE in product development (PD). The thesis focuses on two perspectives of KBE; as a process improvement IT method and as a knowledge management (KM) method. In the first perspective, the lack of explicit regard for the constraints of the product lifecycle management (PLM) architecture, which governs the interaction of processes and IT in PD, has been identified to negatively affect the utilization of KBE in PD processes. In the second perspective, KM theories and models can complement existing methods for identifying potential for KBE applications.Regarding the first perspective, it is concluded that explicit regard for the PLM architecture decreases the need to develop and maintain software code related to hard coded redundant data and functions in the KBE application. The concept of service oriented architecture (SOA) has been found to enable an the explicit regard for the PLM architecture.. Regarding the second perspective, it is concluded that potential for KBE applications is indicated by: 1.) application of certain types of knowledge in PD processes 2.) high maturity and formalization of the applied knowledge 3.) a codification strategy for KM and 4.) an agreement and transparency regarding how the knowledge is applied, captured and transferred. It is also concluded that the formulation of explicit KM strategies in PD should be guided by knowledge application and its relation to strategic objectives focusing on types of knowledge, their role in the PD process and the methods and tools for their application. These, in turn, affect the methods and tools deployed for knowledge capture in order for it to integrate with the processes of knowledge origin. Finally, roles and processes for knowledge transfer have to be transparent to assure the motivation of individuals to engage in the KM strategy

An approach to open virtual commissioning for component-based automation

Increasing market demands for highly customised products with shorter time-to-market and at lower prices are forcing manufacturing systems to be built and operated in a more efficient ways. In order to overcome some of the limitations in traditional methods of automation system engineering, this thesis focuses on the creation of a new approach to Virtual Commissioning (VC). In current VC approaches, virtual models are driven by pre-programmed PLC control software. These approaches are still time-consuming and heavily control expertise-reliant as the required programming and debugging activities are mainly performed by control engineers. Another current limitation is that virtual models validated during VC are difficult to reuse due to a lack of tool-independent data models. Therefore, in order to maximise the potential of VC, there is a need for new VC approaches and tools to address these limitations. The main contributions of this research are: (1) to develop a new approach and the related engineering tool functionality for directly deploying PLC control software based on component-based VC models and reusable components; and (2) to build tool-independent common data models for describing component-based virtual automation systems in order to enable data reusability. [Continues.

Applying lean principles and set-based approaches in product development

The research described in this thesis addresses the problem of transformation to lean product development (LPD) and how to introduce and support the use of set-based design (SBD) in the concept development process. The original description of SBD does not define how to generate, evaluate and reduce a set of design solutions. Evaluation of solution candidates, which are too complex to be analytically verified, or are driven by qualitative criteria, has here been given special attention, particularly in cases when methods utilising human judgment may be needed. For some products, the solution space can consist of both principally different alternatives and parameterised variants of these. The question here is if established methods can be combined and introduced in an efficient way to support an SBD process for development of such products, when driven by both quantitative and qualitative criteria.The research approaches used are:-\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0 a two-case study (Yin, 2009), -\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0 the design research methodology (Blessing and Chakrabarti, 2009), and -\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0\ua0 the scientific work paradigm (J\uf8rgensen, 1992), the last two combined with multiple case studies. Also, elements of action research (Oosthuizen, 2002) are used. The results show that the principles and introduction of LPD were experienced as positive by participating practitioners in the conducted case studies. It was furthermore shown that SBD can be introduced and applied in a workshop at team level within a time frame of one or two working days if the design problem at hand is not too complex. Another result is that SBD can be combined with and supported by established methods such as creative and systematic methods for synthesis, enhanced function-means modelling, axiomatic design, extended causal diagrammes, interactive evolutionary algorithms (IEA) and Pugh matrices for generation, analysis, evaluation and reduction of a solution space of design alternatives and variants of these. Both qualitative and quantitative requirements can be handled. The conclusions are that a transformation to LPD is facilitated by information about good examples and internal support by management. Also, the existence of a lean enthusiast in the organization and an appropriate implementation plan supports a transformation to LPD. A function to maintain the LPD system as well as influence of the lean principles are valuable guides on how to use LPD.\ua0 Also concluded is that a seamless, efficient process, applying set-based principles, for synthesis, evaluation, and reduction of a solution space of design alternatives can be created by combining enhanced function-means modelling, morphological matrices, axiomatic design, causal diagrammes and Pugh matrices. Such a compound of methods can be introduced and applied in a workshop at team level within a time frame of one to two days when solving well-known and not too complex design problems. The workshop should be facilitated by an expert on the methods used and initiated and surveyed by a team manager. Furthermore, a solution space of parameterised design variants, with criteria that are either qualitative or too complicated to be numerically defined, can be generated, evaluated and reduced in such a process. By using a defined set of functional and constraining criteria, and applying axiomatic design and IEA, a variant solution space can be generated and refined. A set-up of the IEA that does not overburden the user should be preferred

Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED11):Book of Abstracts

The ICED series of conferences is the Design Society's "flagship" event. ICED11 took place on August 15-18, 2011, at the campus of the Danish Technical University in Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark. The Proceedings of the conference are published in 10 individual volumes, arranged according to topics. All volumes of the Proceedings may be purchased individually through Amazon and other on-line booksellers. For members of the Design Society, all papers are available on this website. The Programme and Abstract Book is publically available for download

Communicating Conceptual Design of Mechatronic Systems

Today\u27s engineering designers must adapt to a changing model of product development. In the past, a single engineer could design, develop and deploy competitive systems --this is often no longer the case. Designing a mechanical system with integrated microprocessor control requires the collaboration of a cross-disciplinary team of engineers and, in many cases, no single member of the team understands the workings of the entire system. Consequently, as systems become increasingly complex, the ability to collaborate and reliably communicate design information becomes more and more crucial. Effective communication 1s particularly critical in conceptual design, where a poor decision has the highest potential cost. Efficiently exchanging conceptual design information requires a medium that can encapsulate complex, domain-specific concepts and yet be generically readable and concise. This thesis surveys recent work in the area of engineering design and the communication of conceptual design information. Research in these areas is contrasted with the current practices of Mechatronics Engineering, and potential gaps in the literature are identified. This work suggests that the integration of systems architecture and the mechatronic concept could provide an incremental step towards improving the design of mechatronic products. Chapter 1 presents a short introduction to the concepts of mechatronics and conceptual design. A brief history of the evolution of mechatronics is also presented. Chapter 2 reviews recent work in engineering processes, with a focus on how recent developments relate to mechatronics engmeermg. In this chapter, quality functional deployment, concurrent engineering, object-oriented methods and systems architecture are discussed. Chapter 3 focuses on specific processes and tools for the development of mechatronic systems, including integrated design and simulation, the mechatronic design process, and current issues in mechatronics engineering. Chapter 4 discusses current work in the area of conceptual design, with a focus on the communication of conceptual design information. Chapter 5 reviews the previous chapters to identify areas of mechatronics that are in the most need of additional research. Finally, in Chapter 6, conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made